Prizes & Awards

ExposedGrand Jury PrizeCash Award Value: 750 U.S. Dollar
This prize is shared with other categories.

Best Animated FilmCash Award Value: 200 U.S. Dollar
This prize is shared with other categories.

Cinema CarolinaBest independent film made in North or South Carolina, regardless of category, content, or subject. 75% of the principal photography must take place in North or South Carolina to be eligible for this award. Only one award will be given.Cash Award Value: 200 U.S. Dollar
This prize is shared with other categories.

The Woman to WatchBest Female DirectorSponsor:Arts Community Service Program of the Woman's Club of Rock Hill, SC and an affiliate of GFWC Cash Award Value: 200 U.S. Dollar
This prize is shared with other categories.

Best Student FilmStudent films are eligible when created by a student filmmaker enrolled in K-12/collegiate program while in production. All student films from each category are eligible for this award. Only one award will be given.Sponsor:Arts Community Service Program of the Woman's Club of Rock Hill, SC and an affiliate of GFWC Cash Award Value: 100 U.S. Dollar
This prize is shared with other categories.

Category Rules

OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIESIndependent filmmakers across the world are invited to submit professionally presented films with a runtime of 45 minutes or less to participate in this juried competition.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTSFilmmakers may submit a hard copy of their entry directly to the ACYC. Online submissions through withoutabox.com or FilmFreeway may be eligible to receive a $5 discount and are offered an extended deadline of Friday, July 17, 2015.

Only the producer, director, screenwriter, or someone closely connected to the film may complete the application. Schools may submit films on behalf of student filmmakers with the permission of the student(s).

Original formats may have been shot on 8mm, 16mm, 35mm, and all formats of video as well as all formats digital and computer multimedia.

Submissions must include: Entry Fee, Final Cut of the Submission,If entry is mailed, it must be on NTSC DVD (region 1), one film per disc. No Blu-Ray discs will be accepted for review. Mailed entries must have the film's title, Film ID # (if applicable), Contact name and phone number in permanent marker on the disc. PAL format is not accepted. Entry form, Synopsis of no more than 50 words, Summary of no more than 500 words, Director and producer with short bios, An above the line cast and crew list, Release date, At least 1 digital, hi-res, still photo from the film, A listing of previous screenings, festivals and awards, including dates.Links to the official website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Vimeo, etc.

Films submitted for consideration in the Underexposed Film Festival yc must be: Independently developed, financed, and filmed, Films with a runtime of 45 minutes or less in length, Fall into one of the following categories: Narrative, Documentary, Animation, or Experimental.

We regret that a submission cannot be accepted if: It is received with postage due; The entry fee is not paid in full in US dollars; It is received after the final mailing deadline of Friday, June 19, 2015; It is received after the final Withoutabox/FilmFreeway receipt deadline of Friday, July 17, 2015; Any part of the submission is incomplete - please review the disc before mailing; The film contains erotica or explicit sex.

FESTIVAL SCREENINGThe selection and scheduling of all films screened at the Underexposed Film Festival yc are entirely at the discretion of the Arts Council of York County's Executive Director and the UFFyc Festival Director.

Films accepted into competition are not eligible to receive screening fees. Festival entrants will be notified by either email or written correspondence via the US Postal Service by Friday, September 11, 2015.

Once accepted to the Underexposed Film Festival yc, filmmakers agree and certify that the accepted title(s) will not be withdrawn. The selection and scheduling of all films screened at the UFFyc is entirely at the discretion of the ACYC.

No cuts or changes will be made to any film by the Arts Council of York County, however, participation in the UFFyc implies allowing of broadcast on U.S. television and on the internet (excerpt will not exceed 15% or 3 minutes, whichever is less) and for marketing future festivals. If you do not want your film to be used for such purposes, please notify the Arts Council of York County in writing with your submission. Acceptance to the UFFyc also entitles ACYC to use titles and information about the films for the purpose of promoting the festival.

The screening format for films at UFFyc is a combination of DVD and Blu-Ray. Final films accepted for festival screenings must be resubmitted on either DVD or Blu-Ray. Final cut must arrive at the Center for the Arts no later than Friday, October 9, 2015. The required electronic press kit must be emailed to arts@yorkcountyarts.org no later than Friday, October 9, 2015.

Filmmakers whose films are accepted to the UFFyc must provide the following with their festival screening package:• Final Cut of the Submission in one of the following formats on a DVD or Blu-Ray disc:• MPEG2, MPEG4, AVC, MKV, AVC Rec, AVCHD, M4V, WMV, 3GP, FLV, or VOB. • MOV FILMS ARE NOT ACCEPTED,• Mail to: Arts Council of York County, PO Box 2797, Rock Hill, SC 29732• Contact name and phone number in permanent marker on the disc. PAL format is not accepted,• Press Kito Synopsis of no more than 50 words,o Summary of no more than 500 words,o Director and producer with short bios, o An above the line cast and crew list,o Release date,o At least 1 digital, hi-res, promotional or suitable still photo from the film,o A listing of previous screenings, festivals and awards, including dates,o Links to accepted film’s official website, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Vimeo, YouTube, etc.o Optional: Film trailers, promos, interviews• Failure to provide any of the above materials, or submission of the film in an incorrect screening format will disqualify the film from the festival.

While films must be mailed to the Arts Council of York County on DVD or Blu-Ray, the preferred format for press kit submission is via email to arts@yorkcountyarts.org.

Filmmakers whose films are accepted into competition at the 2015 UFFyc will receive a maximum of two (2) complimentary VIP passes to the 2015 UFFyc screenings and wrap party. Discounted ticket packages for cast and crew may be arranged with the Arts Council of York County’s box office in advance. Deadline to notify the ACYC - October 9, 2015. These tickets are non-transferrable.

LIABILITYThe Arts Council of York County (ACYC) and the Underexposed Film Festival yc (UFFyc) will not assume costs of shipping competition entries or associated collateral, nor does the ACYC or the UFFyc provide insurance while in transit to or from the Arts Council's facilities. Do not send original prints or master copies. The ACYC and the UFFyc reserve the right to refuse any entry, and to withdraw any work from the Festival at its discretion.

All work is the property of the applicant. By entering the competition component of the UFFyc, all entrants consent to give the ACYC the rights to use footage and/or titles and/or information about the submissions for promotional and educational purposes.

By submitting your film, you are assigning non-exclusive rights to the Arts Council of York County, the Underexposed Film Festival yc and its affiliated sub-venues and to use said film in conjunction with the aforementioned event. The Underexposed Film Festival yc is hereby granted the right to utilize an excerpt (not to exceed 15% or 3 minutes, whichever is less) from any film submitted and accepted for screening at the Festival for promotional and educational purposes.

Film entries must be submitted by the rights holder(s) or with express written permission of the rights holder(s). By submitting, entrants affirm that they have the right to submit their entry to the Festival and that all clearances and licenses have been obtained, including but not limited to, music, locations, on-camera talent and voice talent. The rights holder(s) will hold the Underexposed Film Festival YC or the Arts Council of York County harmless for any claim involving, but not limited to, claims, liabilities, losses, damages; and expenses involving, but not limited to, copyright, trademark, credits, intellectual property, credits, publicity, screening, or royalty infringement(s) related to submitted work(s).

The Arts Council of York County and the Underexposed Film Festival yc promote the Festival and the schedule of screenings via media including newspapers, emails, social networks, television and radio. We encourage filmmakers to help promote their films by promoting their screenings to industry professionals, distributors, the press, and the general public.

SHIPPINGFilms submitted to the UFFyc juried competition will not be returned to the filmmakers. Most will be destroyed upon the festival's completion. All shipping costs for entries must be paid by the entrant or the entrant's representative.

TERMS & CONDITIONSFilmmakers may submit multiple entries. Each film must be submitted separately and a separate entry fee must be paid per film.

All submissions must be in English or subtitled in English, with the exception of films submitted in the Experimental category.

The UFFyc reserves the right to include non-competition films in the festival.

Screening fees are not paid to films accepted into competition.

The UFFyc does not accept rough cuts or works in progress.

The Underexposed Film Festival yc does not edit films for time or content when selected for screening at the Festival or in the Series.

Films produced, financed or initiated by a major motion picture studio are not eligible for screening.

Employees of the Arts Council of York County and organizers of the Underexposed Film Festival yc are not eligible to submit films for competition in the Underexposed Film Festival yc.

Payment of submission fee does not guarantee inclusion in the Underexposed Film Festival yc. Films are selected on overall quality, production value, community relevance and/or other factors as determined by the screening committee.

DVD screeners are non-returnable.

Filmmakers may not install banners or posters at the Community Performance Center. The Arts Council may provide a table where postcards and small promotional materials advertising films screening at the 2015 UFFyc may be placed.